Tree stand

ABSTRACT

A stand for supporting a pole or the like vertically off the ground, including a hollow cylindrical member in which the pole is received and a plurality of legs removably attached to the pole receiving member and extending radially outwardly therefrom and spaced circumferentially thereabout. The bottom of a pole received in the pole receiving member rests by gravity on portions of the legs extending into the pole receiving member. In the preferred embodiment, the pole receiving member is comprised of two parts for ease of manufacture.

United States Patent Petrie [451 Apr. 11, 1972 [541 TREE STAND 2,469,286 5/1949 Wuerl et al. ..248/47 [72] Inventor: William E. Petrie 1871 I South Cicero FOREI N PATEN R pp AT] N Avenue, Tinley Park, lll. 60477 G TS 0 O S Filed: y 1970 19,420 12/1875 Gemlany ..248/44 [21] Appl. No.: 53,935 Pn'mary Examiner-J. Franklin Foss Attorney-Hofgren, Wegner, Allen, Stellman & Mc Cord [52] U.S. Cl ..248/48 248/188.7 51 Int. Cl ..Zl47 33/12 [571 I ABSTRACT Field Of Search 46, 48, A stand for upporting 3 P013 or the vertically off the 287/2092 D ground, including a hollow cylindrical member in which the pole is received and a plurality of legs removably attached to [56] References cued the pole receiving member and extending radially outwardly UNITED STATES PATENTS therefrom and spaced eircumferentially thereabout. The bottom of a pole recelved in the pole recelvlng member rests by 1,617,765 2/1927 Leedy ..248/47 gravity on portions of the legs extending into the pole receiv- 2,119,946 1938 ancroft 7 ing member. In the preferred embodiment, the pole receiving 2,340,545 19 Marsh 287/20-92 D member is comprised of two parts for ease of manufacture. 2,502,667 4/1950 Pagett. ..248/170 X 357,792 2/1887 Smith 248/1887 17 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Patented April 11, 1972 3,655,156

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 43 I I ll E 9 3/L////X :32 39 6 37 l a 8 A/ 44 l0 7 34 43 I I I4 I! 32 2038 3 I 39 v i 7/,

6 V 34 I 37 3 l ATTORNEYS Patented April 11, 1972 3,655,156

I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TREE STAND 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a stand for supporting a tree, pole or the like off the ground wherein the lower end of the tree or pole is received in a pole receiving member which is supported off the ground by a plurality of legs which are removably attached thereto and extending radially outwardly therefrom and spaced circumferentially thereabout.

2.,Description of the Prior Art It has been known to support a pole-like object vertically off the ground by means of a pole receiving member including a plurality of rigid legs. In order to provide for easy manufacture and reduce storage space when not in use, the legs of the stand have been removably attached to a member which receives the pole. Means must be provided to stabilize each leg around the pole receiving member. A structure of the type described is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 357,792 which issued on Feb. 15, 1887 to H. A. Smith, and entitled Adjustable Foot For Central Supports." However, the structure so disclosed does not give adequate stability to the supported pole, nor are the legs stabilized. With such a structure there also is the disadvantage that the stand cannot be manufactured efficiently, particularly if fabricated of molded plastic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improved stand for supporting a tree, pole, or the like, vertically off the ground.

The stand generally includes means for receiving the lower end of the pole and a plurality of rigid legs removably attached to the pole receiving means and extending outwardly therefrom and spaced circumferentially thereabout to support the pole receiving means off the ground. The pole receiving means has a base portion and a cylindrical portion extending upwardly from the base portion and being open at its top for receiving the pole therein. Each leg includes a generally vertical side adjacent the cylindrical portion of the pole receiving means, a generally inclined bottom side extending radially outwardly from the pole receiving means to a lower ground engaging point and means formed near the top of the vertical side for abutting a pole positioned in the cylindrical portion of the pole receiving means. To prevent movement of each leg outwardly away from the pole receiving means, there is provided a downwardly protruding portion at the juncture of the vertical and bottom sides of each leg which extends vertically into a slot in the pole receiving means. To stabilize each leg vertically, there is provided a vertical slot formed in the pole receiving means for receiving portions of the vertical side of each of the legs generally near the top thereof.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the vertical side of each leg has an inwardly protruding portion formed adjacent the lower end thereof and extending into the hollow cylindrical portion of the pole receiving means whereby a tree or pole, when positioned in the cylindrical portion, rests by gravity on the inwardly protruding portions of the legs. An upper portion of each leg abuts against the pole above the cylindrical portion of the pole receiving means, and the weight of the tree or pole urges the upper portion of each leg tightly against the pole to stabilize the pole.

For ease of manufacture, the base portion and the hollow cylindrical portion of the pole receiving means are separate elements which are capable of being removably locked together. This configuration provides for easier manufacture, particularly when fabricated of molded plastic. The base portion has an upwardly extending cylindrical boss, and locking lugs extend radially outwardly from the boss. The hollow cylindrical portion has an inside diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical boss and has both ends open for receiving a pole through the top thereof and the cylindrical boss through the bottom thereof. The hollow cylindrical portion also includes vertical slots extending from the bottom of the hollow cylindrical portion for receiving the outwardly extending locking lugs, and circumferentially extending slots joining the vertical slots and receiving the outwardly extending locking lugs when the base portion and the hollow cylindrical portion are rotated relative to each other to a locked relationship.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the stand of the present invention having a tree supported therein;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the stand of FIG. 1 having a pole supported therein;

FIG. 3 is a broken away, perspective view of the stand, illustrating the interfitting of the legs to the base;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the two part base of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the base with its two parts in an intermediate position during assembly;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the pole stand shown in FIG. 4, with the legs broken away; and

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the base shown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning to the drawings in greater detail, a tree or pole stand, generally designated 8, is provided for supporting a tree or pole 10 vertically off the ground. The stand includes means, generally designated 12, for receiving the lower end of the pole, and three similarly constructed, flat rigid legs 14 for supporting the pole receiving means 12 off the ground. Each leg 14 is removably attached to the pole receiving means 12 in a manner to be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The pole receiving means 12 includes a substantially flat base portion 16 and a hollow cylindrical portion 18 extending upwardly from the base portion and being open at its top for receiving the pole 10 therein. Around the top of the cylindrical portion 18 is a circumferential flange 20 which extends outwardly therefrom and has three vertical slots 22 therein.

Formed in the sides of the hollow cylindrical portion 18 of the pole receiving means are three vertical slots 26 communicating with the interior of the cylindrical portion 18 and in the same planes as slots 22. In the base portion 16 there are three radial slots 28 extending through the base portion and joined with slots 26, respectively, and normal thereto.

Each flat leg 14 is generally triangularly shaped and has two opposing flat faces 29, a generally vertical side 30 adjacent the cylindrical portion 18 of the pole receiving means when assembled, a generally inclined bottom side 32 joining the vertical side at the bottom portion thereof and a top side 34. The bottom side 32 extends radially outwardly to a lower ground engaging portion 36. The ground engaging portion 36 includes a widened bearing surface portion 37 for greater stability. The vertical side 30 of each leg has an upper inwardly protruding portion 38 and a lower inwardly protruding portion 40. The bottom side 32 has a downwardly protruding portion 42. For purposes to be described in greater detail hereinafter, each leg has a pair of horizontally spaced, outwardly protruding lugs 39 on the opposite flat faces thereof spaced from the vertical side 30.

In order to attach the legs 14 to the pole receiving means 12 as shown in FIG. 3, protruding portions 40 and 42 of each leg are inserted into slots 26 and 28, respectively. After this is done, vertical side 30 is fitted into slot 22 by pivoting the leg upwardly toward the flange 22.

To reinforce and stabilize the legs 14 after being attached to the pole receiving means 12, three flat, horizontal, generally triangular shaped brace members 43 are nested between each pair of adjacent legs 14 forming complementary interengaging means. Each brace member 43 has a downwardly extending flange 44 along the outer edge thereof. The ends of the flange are received between the pairs of lugs 39 on the faces 29 of the adjacent legs, thereby bracing the adjacent legs. The inner comer of each brace member 43 rests on top of the base portion 16 of the pole receiving means 12. The brace members 43 may be made from thin plastic and are stiffened along their outer edge by the flange 44. Obviously, other types of bracing means may be employed between the legs 14.

Most artificial Christmas trees are made with two standard pole diameters, namely 1 5/16 inches and 1 7/16 inches. Accordingly, the design of the present pole stand accommodates both of the above-mentioned diameters with a single diameter hollow cylindrical portion 18. As can be seen in FIG. 2 when a pole 10 is inserted through the top of the cylindrical portion 18, the bottom of the pole rests on top of the inwardly protruding portions 40. Each portion 40 is provided with an upwardly facing top surface 46 on which a pole of either size rests. The pole 10 shown in FIG. 2 is a 1 5/16 inch diameter pole and is seen to abut against a vertical surface 47 formed as a part of portion 40. In order to accommodate the larger 1 7/16 inch pole, the top of each leg 14 is pivotable outwardly from the pole receiving means 12 to increase the distance between the vertical surfaces 47 which are forced apart when the 1 7/16 inch pole is inserted therebetween.

When the stand is in the arrangement described in the preceding paragraphs, each leg 14 will tend to be biased against the pole or tree 10 due to the weight of the pole or tree which exerts a downward force on portions 40 of the legs 14 and the resulting upward force exerted on the ground engaging portions 36, of the legs. Because of the weight of the pole or tree, the upper inwardly protruding portion 38 is biased against the pole or tree 10 regardless of which diameter pole is used.

FIGS. 4-7 illustrate a design of the pole receiving means 12 which facilitates easy manufacture thereof, particularly when manufactured of molded plastic. As shown in the figures, the pole receiving means 12 is comprised of two separate elements, to wit, a base portion 16 and a hollow cylindrical portion 18 open at both of its ends.

The base portion 16 has an integral upwardly extending cylindrical boss 50 having three identical locking fingers 52 extending radially outwardly from the boss 50. The width of each of the locking fingers 52 is the same as the width of the vertical side 30 of each leg 14. Immediately adjacent each finger 52 is a slot 53 formed in the boss 50 wherein slot 53 is a continuation in a radially inwardly direction of slot 28.

Circumferentially normal to slots 26 of the hollow cylindrical portion 18 are three slots 54. The cylindrical portion 18 has an inside diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the boss 50 so that when attaching the base portion 16 to the cylindrical portion 18, the latter is placed over the boss 50 so that the fingers 52 are aligned with the slots 26 in the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion 18 is then pushed down so that slots 26 receive fingers 52 therethrough until the fingers reach circumferential slots 54. When this occurs, the cylindrical portion 18 is twisted so that the fingers 52 matingly lock within slots 54.

The pole stand can be made with an integral unitary pole receiving means 12. The resulting structure would operate in the same manner as described above.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as some modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

lclaim:

1. A stand for supporting a tree, pole, or the like, vertically off the ground comprising:

means for receiving the lower end of the pole, including a hollow, generally vertical cylindrical portion which is open at its top for receiving the lower end of the pole therein and having vertical slot means in the side thereof; and t at least three rigid legs removably attached to the pole receiving means and extending radially outwardly therefrom and spaced circumferentially thereabout, each leg having a generally vertical side adjacent the cylindrical portion of the pole receiving means, and a first inwardly protruding portion adjacent the lower end of said vertical side having a pole receiving surface extending through the vertical slot means and into the hollow of said cylindrical portion of the pole receiving means and a slot engaging surface engaging an end of the slot means radially outwardly of the hollow of said cylindrical portion, whereby a pole, when positioned in said cylindrical portion, rests by gravity on the pole receiving surfaces of the legs and the weight of the pole bearing on said first inwardly protruding portion of each leg causes the top of each leg to pivotally move toward the pole receiving means.

2. The stand of claim 1 wherein each leg includes a second inwardly protruding portion adjacent the top of the vertical side which abuts against the pole received in the cylindrical portion whereby the weight of the pole bearing on the first inwardly protruding portion of each leg causes the second inwardly protruding portion to abut against the pole to stabilize the stand.

3. The stand of claim 2 wherein said second inwardly protruding portion abuts the pole above the pole receiving means.

4. The stand of claim 1 including vertical stabilizing means for each leg including a circumferential flange around said hollow cylindrical portion extending outwardly therefrom and having vertical slots therein to receive portions of the vertical side of each leg.

5. The stand of claim 1 wherein the legs comprise means to support the pole receiving means off the ground, each leg including a generally inclined bottom side extending radially outwardly from the hollow cylindrical portion to a lower ground engaging point.

6. The stand of claim 1 including complementary interengaging means associated between each pair of adjacent legs for providing support between the legs.

7. The stand of claim 6 wherein each leg has two flat vertical faces extending radially outwardly from the pole receiving means and has two pairs of lugs, one on each flat face, and wherein said interengaging means includes a plurality of flat, horizontal, generally triangular shaped brace members nested between each pair of adjacent legs, each brace member having a pair of downwardly extending fingers received between the pair of lugs on the side of the adjacent legs.

8. The stand of claim 1 wherein the first inwardly protruding portion includes a vertical surface abutting the pole when resting thereon and wherein the top of each leg is pivotable outwardly from the pole receiving means thereby increasing the distance between the vertical abutting surfaces which are forced apart when a pole is inserted therebetween.

9. The stand of claim 1 wherein said slot means comprise a plurality of slots, one for each leg, each defined by a vertical portion and a radially outwardly extending portion terminating in a radially outward end, each said slot engaging surface comprising a downwardly protruding portion in said radially outwardly extending portion and in engagement with said radially outward end.

10. A stand for vertically supporting a tree, pole, or the like, off the ground comprising:

means for receiving the lower end of the pole including a base portion and a hollow cylindrical portion extending upwardly from said base portion and being open at its top for receiving the pole therein;

means supporting the pole receiving means off the ground including a plurality of rigid legs removably attached to the pole receiving means and extending radially outwardly therefrom and spaced circumferentially thereabout, each leg having a generally vertical side adjacent the cylindrical portion of the pole receiving means, a generally inclined bottom side extending radially outwardly from the pole receiving means to a lower ground engaging point, the juncture of said vertical and bottom sides being adjacent the juncture of the cylindrical and base portions, and

means preventing the outward movement of each leg away from the pole receiving means including a downwardly protruding portion adjacent the juncture of the vertical and bottom sides of the legs,

stop means formed on the base portion of the pole receiving means abutting said downwardly protruding portion radially outwardly of the hollow of said cylindrical portion preventing outward movement of each leg; and

vertical stabilizing means for each leg including vertical slot means formed in the pole receiving means for receiving portions of the vertical side of each of said legs.

11. The stand of claim wherein said base and hollow cylindrical portions of the pole receiving means are separate elements removably locked together.

12. The stand of claim 11 wherein the base portion of said pole receiving means has an upwardly extending cylindrical boss integral therewith and locking means extending radially outwardly from the boss, and

the hollow cylindrical portion of said pole receiving means has an inside diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical boss and has both ends open for receiving a pole through the top thereof and the cylindrical boss through the bottom thereof, said hollow cylindrical portion including vertical slot means extending from the bottom of said hollow cylindrical portion receiving said outwardly extending locking means and circumferentially extending slot means joining the vertical slot means and receiving the outwardly extending stop means when the base portion and the hollow cylindrical portion are rotated relative to each other to a locked relationship.

13. The pole stand of claim 10 wherein the vertical side of each leg includes a first inwardly protruding portion adjacent the lower end of said vertical side extending into the vertical slot means of the hollow cylindrical portion of the pole receiving means whereby a pole, when positioned in said cylindrical portion, rests by gravity on the first inwardly protruding portions of the legs and the weight of the pole bearing on said first inwardly protruding portion of each leg causes the top of each leg to pivotally move toward the pole receiving means.

14. The stand of claim 13 wherein each leg includes a second inwardly protruding portion adjacent the top of the vertical side which abuts against the pole received in the cylindrical portion whereby the weight of the pole bearing on the first inwardly protruding portion of each leg causes the second inwardly protruding portion to abut against the pole to stabilize the stand.

15. The stand of claim 10 including complementary interengaging means associated between each pair of adjacent legs for protruding support between the legs.

16. The stand of claim 15 wherein each leg has two fiat opposing sides extending radially outwardly from the pole receiving means and has two pairs of lugs, one on each flat side, and wherein said interengaging means includes a plurality of fiat, horizontal, generally triangular shaped brace members nested between each pair of adjacent legs, each brace member having a pair of downwardly extending fingers received between the pair of lugs on the side of the adjacent legs.

17. The stand of claim 13 wherein the first inwardly protruding portion includes a vertical surface abutting the pole when resting thereon and wherein the top of each leg is pivotable outwardly from the pole receiving means thereby increasing the distance between the vertical abutting surfaces which are forced apart when a pole is inserted therebetween. 

1. A stand for supporting a tree, pole, or the like, vertically off the ground comprising: means for receiving the lower end of the pole, including a hollow, generally vertical cylindrical portion which is open at its top for receiving the lower end of the pole therein and having vertical slot means in the side thereof; and at least three rigid legs removably attached to the pole receiving means and extending radially outwardly therefrom and spaced circumferentially thereabout, each leg having a generally vertical side adjacent the cylindrical portion of the pole receiving means, and a first inwardly protruding portion adjacent the lower end of said vertical side having a pole receiving surface extending through the vertical slot means and into the hollow of said cylindrical portion of the pole receiving means and a slot engaging surface engaging an end of the slot means radially outwardly of the hollow of said cylindrical portion, whereby a pole, when positioned in said cylindrical portion, rests by gravity on the pole receiving surfaces of the legs and the weight of the pole bearing on said first inwardly protruding portion of each leg causes the top of each leg to pivotally move toward the pole receiving means.
 2. The stand of claim 1 wherein each leg includes a second inwardly protruding portion adjacent the top of the vertical side which abuts against the pole received in the cylindrical portion whereby the weight of the pole bearing on the first inwardly protruding portion of each leg causes the second inwardly protruding portion to abut against the pole to stabilize the stand.
 3. The stand of claim 2 wherein said second inwardly protruding portion abuts the pole above the pole receiving means.
 4. The stand of claim 1 including vertical stabilizing means for each leg including a circumferential flange around said hollow cylindrical portion extending outwardly therefrom and having vertical slots therein to receive portions of the vertical side of each leg.
 5. The stand of claim 1 wherein the legs comprise means to support the pole receiving means off the ground, each leg including a generally inclined bottom side extending radially outwardly from the hollow cylindrical portion to a lower ground engaging point.
 6. The stand of claim 1 including complementary interengaging means associated between each pair of adjacent legs for providing support between the legs.
 7. The stand of claim 6 wherein each leg has two flat vertical faces extending radially outwardly from the pole receiving means and has two pairs of lugs, one on each flat face, and wherein said interengaging means includes a plurality of flat, horizontal, generally triangular shaped brace members nested between each pair of adjacent legs, each brace member having a pair of downwardly extending fingers received between the pair of lugs on the side of the adjacent legs.
 8. The stand of claim 1 wherein the first inwardly protruding portion includes a vertical surface abutting the pole when resting thereon and wherein the top of each leg is pivotable outwardly from the pole receiving means thereby increasing the distance between the vertical abutting suRfaces which are forced apart when a pole is inserted therebetween.
 9. The stand of claim 1 wherein said slot means comprise a plurality of slots, one for each leg, each defined by a vertical portion and a radially outwardly extending portion terminating in a radially outward end, each said slot engaging surface comprising a downwardly protruding portion in said radially outwardly extending portion and in engagement with said radially outward end.
 10. A stand for vertically supporting a tree, pole, or the like, off the ground comprising: means for receiving the lower end of the pole including a base portion and a hollow cylindrical portion extending upwardly from said base portion and being open at its top for receiving the pole therein; means supporting the pole receiving means off the ground including a plurality of rigid legs removably attached to the pole receiving means and extending radially outwardly therefrom and spaced circumferentially thereabout, each leg having a generally vertical side adjacent the cylindrical portion of the pole receiving means, a generally inclined bottom side extending radially outwardly from the pole receiving means to a lower ground engaging point, the juncture of said vertical and bottom sides being adjacent the juncture of the cylindrical and base portions, and means preventing the outward movement of each leg away from the pole receiving means including a downwardly protruding portion adjacent the juncture of the vertical and bottom sides of the legs, stop means formed on the base portion of the pole receiving means abutting said downwardly protruding portion radially outwardly of the hollow of said cylindrical portion preventing outward movement of each leg; and vertical stabilizing means for each leg including vertical slot means formed in the pole receiving means for receiving portions of the vertical side of each of said legs.
 11. The stand of claim 10 wherein said base and hollow cylindrical portions of the pole receiving means are separate elements removably locked together.
 12. The stand of claim 11 wherein the base portion of said pole receiving means has an upwardly extending cylindrical boss integral therewith and locking means extending radially outwardly from the boss, and the hollow cylindrical portion of said pole receiving means has an inside diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the cylindrical boss and has both ends open for receiving a pole through the top thereof and the cylindrical boss through the bottom thereof, said hollow cylindrical portion including vertical slot means extending from the bottom of said hollow cylindrical portion receiving said outwardly extending locking means and circumferentially extending slot means joining the vertical slot means and receiving the outwardly extending stop means when the base portion and the hollow cylindrical portion are rotated relative to each other to a locked relationship.
 13. The pole stand of claim 10 wherein the vertical side of each leg includes a first inwardly protruding portion adjacent the lower end of said vertical side extending into the vertical slot means of the hollow cylindrical portion of the pole receiving means whereby a pole, when positioned in said cylindrical portion, rests by gravity on the first inwardly protruding portions of the legs and the weight of the pole bearing on said first inwardly protruding portion of each leg causes the top of each leg to pivotally move toward the pole receiving means.
 14. The stand of claim 13 wherein each leg includes a second inwardly protruding portion adjacent the top of the vertical side which abuts against the pole received in the cylindrical portion whereby the weight of the pole bearing on the first inwardly protruding portion of each leg causes the second inwardly protruding portion to abut against the pole to stabilize the stand.
 15. The stand of claim 10 including complementary interengaging means associated bEtween each pair of adjacent legs for protruding support between the legs.
 16. The stand of claim 15 wherein each leg has two flat opposing sides extending radially outwardly from the pole receiving means and has two pairs of lugs, one on each flat side, and wherein said interengaging means includes a plurality of flat, horizontal, generally triangular shaped brace members nested between each pair of adjacent legs, each brace member having a pair of downwardly extending fingers received between the pair of lugs on the side of the adjacent legs.
 17. The stand of claim 13 wherein the first inwardly protruding portion includes a vertical surface abutting the pole when resting thereon and wherein the top of each leg is pivotable outwardly from the pole receiving means thereby increasing the distance between the vertical abutting surfaces which are forced apart when a pole is inserted therebetween. 